Hanif Flyover stands as a symbol of urban connectivity, in the middle of Dhaka’s relentless traffic and concrete rush. Built to ease congestion and speed up transportation, the flyover was meant for vehicles, not for people on foot. Yet every day, men, women and even children are seen walking across it, turning a piece of modern infrastructure into a dangerous survival route.
The reality is simple and visible. Pedestrians’ cross busy lanes while buses, trucks, motorcycles and private cars move at high speed. There are no proper walkways, no protective barriers for foot traffic, and no safe crossing points.
A mother holding her child’s hand, women carrying shopping bags, and workers rushing to their destinations all share the same risky road space with heavy vehicles. One small mistake, one sudden brake failure, or one careless turn could lead to a tragic accident.
For many of these pedestrians, using the flyover is not a choice but a necessity. Public transport often drops passengers at inconvenient points, and alternative crossing routes are either too far or time-consuming.
Walking across the flyover becomes the quickest way to reach home, work or the nearest bus stop. In a city where time is precious and transport systems are poorly coordinated, safety often takes a back seat to survival.
This risky public usage reflects a deeper urban planning failure. Flyovers are designed to reduce traffic congestion, but they rarely consider pedestrian movement. Without footbridges, safe crossings, or strict monitoring, people are forced to adapt in unsafe ways. The absence of enforcement also encourages this dangerous habit, slowly normalising a life-threatening practice.
Hanif Flyover, like many infrastructures in Dhaka, shows the gap between development and safety. Building roads and flyovers is not enough; ensuring safe access for all road users is equally important. Until proper pedestrian facilities and strict regulations are introduced, people will continue walking on the edge, risking their lives just to move from one side of the city to another.
